Management of digital content distribution

Abstract

A method for sharing a content item from an originator with one or more first-order recipients may include receiving a first grouping of one or more first-order recipients that is selected to receive the content item from the originator. The method may also include receiving one or more distribution objectives from the originator. The method may also include selecting a first share time for the content item. The method may also include predicting a first predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the first grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the first share time. The method may also include determining whether the distribution objectives are met for the content item. The method may also include sharing the content item at the first share time in response to the distribution objectives being met for the content item.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for sharing a content item from an originator with one or more first-order recipients comprising:
 receiving a first grouping of one or more first-order recipients that is selected to receive the content item from the originator; 
 receiving one or more distribution objectives from the originator; 
 selecting a first share time for the content item; 
 predicting a first predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the first grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the first share time; 
 determining whether the distribution objectives are met for the content item; and 
 sharing the content item at the first share time in response to the distribution objectives being met for the content item. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a second share time for the content item in response to the distribution objectives not being met for the content item; and 
 predicting a second predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the first grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the second share time. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a second grouping of one or more first-order recipients to receive the content item from an originator; 
 selecting a third share time for the content item; and 
 predicting a third predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the second grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the third share time. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicting the first predicted grouping of second-order recipients includes:
 selecting a first-order recipient from the first grouping of one or more first-order recipients; 
 receiving recipient sharing factors for the first-order recipient and content sharing factors for the content item; 
 creating a profile for the first-order recipient based on the recipient sharing factors; 
 calculating a probability, based on a relationship of the content sharing factors to the profile, of the first-order recipient sharing the content item with a selection of one or more second-order recipients; and 
 including the selection of one or more second-order recipients in the first predicted grouping of second-order recipients in response to a probability threshold for the probability being met. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least one recipient sharing factor is selected from: time online, reputation, platform, category of shared content, second-order recipient of shared content, username of first-order recipient, time of shared content, and calendar of first-order recipient. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving the recipient sharing factors includes:
 requesting sharing factors from a social media application programming interface. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 alerting the originator in response to the distribution objectives not being met for the content item. 
 
     
     
       8. A system for use with a computer that is configured to host a social media application that allows a content item to be shared with a grouping of first order recipients, the system comprising:
 one or more computer processor circuits that are configured to host a sharing analysis application that is configured to:
 receive a first grouping of one or more first-order recipients that is selected to receive the content item from an originator, 
 receive one or more distribution objectives from the originator, 
 select a first share time for the content item, 
 predict a first predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the first grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the first share time, 
 determine whether the distribution objectives are met for the content item, and 
 share the content item at the first share time in response to the distribution objectives being met for the content item. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sharing analysis application is configured to:
 select a second share time for the content item in response to the distribution objectives not being met for the content item; and 
 predict a second predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the first grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the second share time. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sharing analysis application is configured to:
 select a second grouping of one or more first-order recipients to receive the content item from an originator; 
 select a third share time for the content item; and 
 predict a third predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the second grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the third share time. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sharing analysis application is configured to predict the first predicted grouping of second-order recipients by:
 selecting a first-order recipient from the first grouping of one or more first-order recipients; 
 receiving recipient sharing factors for the first-order recipient and content sharing factors for the content item; 
 creating a profile for the first-order recipient based on the recipient sharing factors; 
 calculating a probability, based on a relationship of the content sharing factors to the profile, of the first-order recipient sharing the content item with a selection of one or more second-order recipients; and 
 including the selection of one or more second-order recipients in the first predicted grouping of second-order recipients in response to a probability threshold for the probability being met. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one recipient sharing factor is selected from: time online, reputation, platform, category of shared content, second-order recipient of shared content, username of first-order recipient, time of shared content, and calendar of first-order recipient. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein receiving recipient sharing factors includes:
 requesting sharing factors from a social media application programming interface. 
 
     
     
       14. A computer program product for sharing a content item from an originator with one or more first-order recipients comprising a computer readable storage device having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
 receive a first grouping of one or more first-order recipients that is selected to receive the content item from the originator; 
 receive one or more distribution objectives from the originator; 
 select a first share time for the content item; 
 predict a first predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the first grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the first share time; 
 determine whether the distribution objectives are met for the content item; and 
 share the content item at the first share time in response to the distribution objectives being met for the content item. 
 
     
     
       15. The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the computer readable program causes the computing device to:
 select a second share time for the content item in response to the distribution objectives not being met for the content item; and 
 predict a second predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the first grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the second share time. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the computer readable program causes the computing device to:
 select a second grouping of one or more first-order recipients to receive the content item from an originator; 
 select a third share time for the content item; and 
 predict a third predicted grouping of second-order recipients derived from the second grouping of first-order recipients for the content item at the third share time. 
 
     
     
       17. The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the computer readable program causes the computing device to predict the first predicted grouping of second-order recipients by:
 selecting a first-order recipient from the first grouping of one or more first-order recipients; 
 receiving recipient sharing factors for the first-order recipient and content sharing factors for the content item; 
 creating a profile for the first-order recipient based on the recipient sharing factors; 
 calculating a probability, based on a relationship of the content sharing factors to the profile, of the first-order recipient sharing the content item with a selection of one or more second-order recipients; and 
 including the selection of one or more second-order recipients in the first predicted grouping of second-order recipients in response to a probability threshold for the probability being met. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein at least one recipient sharing factor is selected from: time online, reputation, platform, category of shared content, second-order recipient of shared content, username of first-order recipient, time of shared content, and calendar of first-order recipient. 
     
     
       19. The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein receiving the recipient sharing factors includes:
 requesting sharing factors from a social media application programming interface. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the computer readable program causes the computing device to:
 alert the originator in response to the distribution objectives not being met for the content item.